Device for securing small boats together



May 21, 1963 w. G. FLETCHER DEVICE FOR SECURING SMALL BOATS TOGETHER Filed Nov. 20, 1961 FIG.

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United States Patent Ofiice 3,090,053 Patented May 21, 1963 3,090,053 DEVICE FOR SECURING SMALL BOATS TOGETHER William G. Fletcher, 218 Linwood Ave., Bogota, NJ. Filed Nov. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 153,635 8 Claims. (Cl. 9-2) This invention relates in general to small boat construction and in particular to a new and useful yoke device for securing together two small-sized boats for the purpose of forming a single overall boat structure which is adapted to hold a central power motor.

At present, plastics have been developed to such an extent that inexpensive boats of a rowboat type can be molded of plastic material and made of a size and weight that can be easily transported by a person or even a child. The present invention is particularly concerned with a yoke construction for securing two of these boats together in stern-to-stern fashion to form an overall boat construction which is pointed at each end and to form a central connecting yoke which is capable of supporting a power motor for the propulsion of such boats. The yoke itself is advantageously made of an inexpensive lightweight material such as plastic, aluminum, etc., and is formed of a configuration which is adapted to fit over the stern portions of similarly constructed boats for the purpose of holding the boats together with their sterns opposite to form an enlarged boat structure. An advantage of the device is that the boats may be transported singularly by two separate persons or they may be nested together and carried by a single person along with the yoke and assembled to form an overall larger vessel at the place of use.

A further advantage in the yoke construction is that provision is made to accommodate an outboard motor which is adapted to fit through a central opening in the yoke for the purpose of propelling the overall vessel construction after the yoke is assembled to each of the individual boats.

In accordance with the invention, the boat yoke includes a central portion with an opening and an upstanding support panel adapted to form a mount for an outboard motor. The yoke has arm portions which extend outwardly in opposite directions from each side of the central portion and are adapted to overlie side edges of a rowooat. The central portion is recessed to accommodate the stern of each boat and means are provided to securely clamp the yoke to each individual boat. With the yoke in position. the two boats become a single vessel secured together at their sterns with the yoke members.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved device for connecting two boats together.

A further object of the invention is to provide a yoke construction for connecting small boats stern-to-stern which includes means for clamping the yoke over the stern portion of each boat for the purpose of connecting the boats together.

A further object of the invention is to provide a yoke construction which includes an inexpensive casting or molded yoke having arm portions which overlie stern portions of boats to be connected together and includes clamping means therein for securing the arm portions onto the individual boats and further including means for mounting an outboard motor thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a yoke construction for securing boats together which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view indicating two boats joined together by a yoke constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein includes a yoke generally designated 10 in position securing together two inexpensive rowboat-type boats 12. and 14. The rowboat 1'2 and 14 are of inexpensive variety and, as indicated, are advanta-' geously made of a molded plastic. The yoke 10 is adapted to fit over stern portions 112a and 14a of the boats v12 and 14 and hold them together in a position with the sterns opposing to form an overall vessel construction.

In accordance with the invention, the yoke 10 is advantageously made of an inexpensive material such as plastic, aluminum and similar material which is advantageously made in a single molded piece. The yoke 10 includes a central portion 16 from which arms 18 and 20 and 18' and 20 extend outwardly in opposite directions on each side thereof.

The arm portions 18 and 20 and 18' and 20' include downwardly extending leg portions A and B which fit over gunwales 12c and 12d of each boat. In addition, a depending wall C is formed from the central portion '16 between the legs 18 and 18' and 20 and 20' which fits inside of the inner wall of the sterns 12a and 14a. With the yoke thus positioned, clamping bolts 22 are threaded into engagement with the gunwales to secure the yoke 10 firmly in position. In the embodiment indicated, only four fastening bolts 22 are indicated on each of the arms 18, 20 and 18 and 20. However, a greater number of bolts may be employed advantageously arranged in horizontal and vertical alignment.

A feature of the construction of the yoke 10 is that the central portion 16 is provided with wall portions defining containers 24 and 26 on each side of a central opening 28. The containers 24 and 26 are advantageously provided with covers 30 and 32 which are pivotal on the yoke member to permit closing and opening thereof. Adjacent the central opening 28 there is formed a raised support member 34 which forms a mounting board for an outboard or similar type motor which extends to the opening 28 to permit insertion of the propulsion screw at a location between the boats 12 and 14- for propulsion purposes. The compartment or container 26 advantageously includes drains or sea openings 36 to permit draining of this oompar tment 26 when it is employed for carrying liquid material or when it is desired that sea water flow therein as when bait is kept in such compartment.

Thus, the invention provides a simple means for securing two small boats together so that they may form an overall boa-t large enough to support a propulsion motor for movement thereof. The device provides an easy means for converting the two inexpensive rowboats into a relatively large-sized vessel that can hold more than one person.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for securing two boats together each having a stern and side gunwales comprising a yoke member having a central portion adapted to fit over the stern of a boat and including means extending outwardly from the central portion from each side thereof adapted to overly the side to secure another boat in position behind the gunwales of another boat stern.

2. A device for securing two small boats having stern portions and sides together comprising a yoke member having a central portion adapted to be positioned between the stems of said boats and including arms extending outwardly from said central portion on each side thereof to overlie respective sides of said boats, and means to con nect said arms to the sides of said boats for anchoring said boats together in a Stern-to-stern relationship.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said means to secure said arms to said boats includes threaded clamping members.

4. A yoke for securing two small boats together in stern-to-stern fashion comprising a central portion having a central opening defined therein and a container portion formed therein, an arm portion extending outwardly from each side of said central portion in opposite directions at each end thereof, said central portion including a depending wall adapted to overlie a stern of a small boat, said arm portions including depending walls adapted to span and overlie the side walls of said small boats, and clamping elements adapted to fit into the depending walls of said arm portions for securing said boats in a sternto-stern relationship. a

5. A device for securing two small boats having stern portions together comprising a yoke member having a central portion adapted to be positioned between the stems of said boats and including arms extending outwardly from said central portion, and means to connect said arms to the sides of said boats for anchoring said boats together in a stern-to-stern relationship, said central portion including an opening for an outboard motor.

6. A device for securing two small boats having stern portions together comprising a yoke member having a central portion adapted to be positioned between the stems of said boats and including arms extending outwardly from said central portion, and means to connect said arms to the sides of said boats for anchoring said boats together in a stern-to-stern relationship, said arm portions being U-sections and adapted to overlie the sides of said boats.

7. A device for securing two small boats having stern portions together comprising a yoke member having a central portion adapted to be positioned between the stems of said boats and including arms extending outwardly iirom said central portion, and means to connect said arms to the sides of said boats for anchoring said boats together in a stern-to-stern relationship, including containers formed in said central portion.

8. A yoke for securing two small boats together in stern-to-stern fashion comprising a central portion adapted to extend between the stems of the boats and including depending portions adapted to overlie the interior of the respective stems, an arm extending outwardly from each side of said central portion and at each end thereof to form a first set of arms extending outwardly from one side to overly the side walls of one of said boats and a second set of arms extending outwardly firom the opposite side to overly the sides of the second of said boats, said arms including port-ions extending downwardly to engage over the side walls of the associated boats and clamping means carried thereby for clamping the side- Walls of said boats to said arms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A DEVICE FOR SECURING TWO BOATS TOGETHER EACH HAVING A STERN AND SIDE GUNWALES COMPRISING A YOKE MEMBER HAVING A CENTRAL PORTION ADAPTED TO FIT OVER THE STERN OF A BOAT AND INCLUDING MEANS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE CENTRAL PORTION FROM EACH SIDE THEREOF ADAPTED TO OVERLY THE SIDE TO SECURE ANOTHER BOAT IN POSITION BEHIND THE GUNWALES OF ANOTHER BOAT STERN. 